"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD." – Psalm 33:12a
We live under the rule of one kingdom, but we live in a nation of neighbors who have chosen their ultimate loyalties and come together be a neighborhood and live in harmony.
People who have chosen to live under the rule of the kingdom of God are a colony of Heaven, a nation within a nation. Those people are called to exercise power through influence. This happens at every level of society and is part of being salt and light in the world.
Israel’s God was the LORD, capitalized because the word, LORD is written and spoken as a substitute for God’s most holy personal name. It set them apart as a people to know Him by name. Yet His name was not something they would flaunt or toss around in vain.
For that reason, Israel was blessed, not because of their brilliant leadership, industrious people, vibrant economy, wise judiciary, or lovely landscapes, but because of their God and their relationship with Him.
There has been only one holy nation among the governments of men and there shall be no others. All other nations are, by definition, secular, but that does not make place under different obligations related to the Kingdom of God. Ultimately, all people and peoples are evaluated on the Law of love – love for God and love for neighbor.
In nations, we who follow Jesus are all resident aliens. Our citizenship is in Heaven, our highest loyalty, to God.
That being the case, a nation can honor God in its justice, compassion, integrity, and fairness with others. Its people can individually honor Him with their worship and love.
The nation itself can choose to stand among the blessed sheep in Matthew 25 who treat the poor and helpless with dignity and mercy and thus welcome Jesus.
That is what nations can do and how nations may be blessed.
America is blessed to the extent that those principles of human dignity, soul freedom, and justice upon which she was philosophically founded are observed and honored. In them, God is honored, the flag is dignified, and the people are blessed.
We have no rulers. The people are the authority in our system. Our leaders are invested with the authority we give them and that authority is within limits, accountability, and temporary.
"We the people" does more than give us power. It gives us responsibility to influence our governments to be just, compassionate, fair, and righteous in their dealings with other nations and people.
"Blessed is the nation" was a promise to Israel because she had an official relationship with the LORD. But even secular and pluralistic nations can benefit from the principle of the promise when they practice values consistent with the ethics of the kingdom of God.
We are a nation of neighbors and our role as disciples of Jesus is to be good neighbors and to influence the nation to be a good neighbor to others.
Pastor Tom's Community 
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